[adam the great]

Originally Posted by martin417

There is a safe zone stretching all the way across the field. The outer works.
I have it on good authority that the outer works protection rule was intended as a dual role. Protection for both breaching and shooting. I do not expect an update changing it.

Based on shooting from the key in 2012, I don't expect shooting from the outer works to be overly difficult, however, it is a high risk for the reward (missed shot is a huge penalty in time), so many teams may decide to forgo long shooting. With only one defensive bot allowed, there will always be at least one low goal vulnerable.

Exactly, I don't understand how there is such a big debate about this part of the game. They clearly specified they way you can shoot and used the wording "And no other carpet" rather than "only completely in the enemies courtyard" I expect many team that do well at these competitions to use that safe zone.

However (and this isn't directed at the quote above) the value of defense should not be over looked, which it is year after year by many people. While you may not Need a defender at all times or in all matches. Certainly as the weeks progress and teams start stealing balls from the secret passage way. or teams that have to rush low goals to breach and capture Defense will be critical to stopping them not only from getting to the goal but also keeping them from getting back out or opening the Group C Outerworks for teammates. Defense is not just complete prevention of scoring but when you can add 5-10 seconds to a few of the other alliance cycles that's as good as getting as getting points for your alliance. (at least when you alliance is capable of already doing both the outerworks and tower without you)
PS: don't forget about the value in playing defense while you teammates break defenses that you can't and then switching the defense and an offense bot to get the varieties of outerworks broken up in the most efficient way.